Reaching the Mountaintops of the Giants feels like crossing a threshold.
For most of Elden Ring, players are encouraged to explore. Limgrave, Liurnia, Altus Plateau, and even Leyndell offer multiple paths forward.
The Mountaintops are different.
This is where the game begins its final act.
Enemy health increases dramatically. Mistakes become more punishing. Upgrade materials become rarer and more valuable. Optional content starts leading toward some of the hardest encounters in the game.
Many players arrive here expecting another open-world region.
Instead, they discover a zone that quietly prepares them for Elden Ring's endgame.
This walkthrough focuses on the fastest progression route while ensuring you collect the most important rewards before facing the Fire Giant and advancing the main story.
Why the Mountaintops of the Giants Matter
The Mountaintops serve as the gateway to every major late-game area.
Progress here eventually leads toward:
- Fire Giant
- Forge of the Giants
- Crumbling Farum Azula
- Consecrated Snowfield
- Miquella's Haligtree
- Endgame boss encounters
Several of the strongest weapons, talismans, and upgrade materials become available during this stage of the game.
Recommended Level for the Mountaintops
Before entering the region, most players should have:
| Recommendation | Value |
|---|---|
| --------------- | ---------- |
| Character Level | 100–120 |
| Standard Weapon | +20 to +24 |
| Somber Weapon | +8 to +9 |
| Flask Charges | 10–12 |
| Vigor | 40–60 |
The difficulty spike becomes noticeable below these ranges.
First Objectives After Entering
Many players immediately head toward the Fire Giant.
This is rarely the best approach.
Your initial goals should be:
- Unlock map fragments
- Activate major Sites of Grace
- Gather upgrade materials
- Explore Castle Sol
- Strengthen your build
- Prepare for Fire Giant
This route minimizes frustration and maximizes progression efficiency.
Obtain the East Mountaintops Map Fragment
Your first priority should always be map visibility.
The eastern section contains:
- Main story progression
- Castle Sol access
- Key farming routes
- Important side content
Exploration becomes significantly easier once the map is revealed.
Explore Zamor Ruins
One of the first major locations players encounter.
Reasons to visit:
Valuable Loot
Several useful items can be found here.
Upgrade Materials
Important for final weapon improvements.
Build Resources
Many players overlook resources hidden throughout the ruins.
Zamor Ruins should be explored thoroughly before moving deeper into the region.
Collect Late-Game Smithing Stones
Weapon upgrades remain the single most important source of damage.
Throughout the Mountaintops you can obtain:
- Smithing Stone [7]
- Smithing Stone [8]
- Ancient Dragon materials later
- Somber upgrade resources
Before fighting Fire Giant, your primary weapon should be close to its maximum upgrade level.
Unlock Key Sites of Grace
The region is enormous.
Efficient travel becomes increasingly important.
Prioritize unlocking:
Ancient Snow Valley Ruins
Central travel hub.
Freezing Lake
Important exploration checkpoint.
Whiteridge Road
Useful for future progression.
These locations reduce unnecessary backtracking.
Explore the Freezing Lake
The Freezing Lake area contains:
- Valuable resources
- Optional encounters
- Important progression routes
Several late-game materials become available here.
Do not simply ride through.
Defeat the Tibia Mariner (Optional)
Although optional, the encounter provides:
- Rune rewards
- Additional progression resources
- Useful exploration incentives
Most late-game characters can handle the fight comfortably.
Visit Castle Sol
Castle Sol is the single most important optional area in the Mountaintops.
Many players skip it.
This is a major mistake.
Why Castle Sol Matters
Castle Sol contains one of the most important items in the game.
Without it:
- Consecrated Snowfield cannot be accessed
- Miquella's Haligtree remains unavailable
The rewards here impact some of Elden Ring's hardest content.
Navigate Castle Sol Efficiently
Castle Sol is filled with:
- Aggressive enemies
- Dangerous spirits
- Difficult ambushes
Recommended approach:
- Unlock shortcuts
- Clear key pathways
- Avoid unnecessary fights
- Preserve Flask charges
Patience is more effective than rushing.
Defeat Commander Niall
Commander Niall is one of the most significant optional bosses before the endgame.
Why Commander Niall Is Important
Defeating him grants:
- Haligtree Secret Medallion (Left)
- Access to future endgame regions
This reward is mandatory for players seeking full exploration.
Strategy Overview
Focus on:
- Eliminating summons quickly
- Maintaining spacing
- Punishing recovery windows
The first phase often determines the outcome of the fight.
Obtain the Haligtree Secret Medallion
This item eventually unlocks:
Consecrated Snowfield
Which leads to:
Miquella's Haligtree
One of the most challenging and rewarding areas in Elden Ring.
Even if you do not visit immediately, securing the medallion now is recommended.
Prepare for the Fire Giant
The Fire Giant serves as the region's major progression gate.
Before challenging him, ensure:
- Weapon upgrades are nearly complete
- Flask upgrades are maximized
- Build is finalized
- Rune level is appropriate
Preparation dramatically improves the encounter.
Recommended Fire Giant Checklist
Before entering the fight:
- Level 100+
- 40–60 Vigor
- Weapon +20 or higher
- Strong healing setup
- Appropriate talismans equipped
Many players struggle simply because they arrive underprepared.
Defeat the Fire Giant
The Fire Giant is one of the largest bosses in the game.
The encounter emphasizes:
Positioning
Staying near vulnerable areas is crucial.
Patience
Overcommitting often leads to punishment.
Endurance
The fight is designed to be longer than most previous encounters.
Victory unlocks the final progression path toward the endgame.
Reach the Forge of the Giants
After defeating the Fire Giant:
- The main story advances significantly
- New regions become available
- Endgame progression begins
This is one of the most important moments in Elden Ring.
Best Loot to Obtain Before Leaving
Several rewards should not be missed.
Haligtree Secret Medallion
Required for optional endgame content.
Late-Game Smithing Stones
Critical for weapon upgrades.
Golden Seeds
Additional Flask charges remain valuable.
High-Level Talismans
Some powerful options become available in this region.
Common Mountaintops Mistakes
Rushing the Fire Giant
Many players ignore valuable upgrades and struggle unnecessarily.
Skipping Castle Sol
This delays access to major late-game content.
Neglecting Weapon Upgrades
Enemy health scaling becomes significant here.
Underinvesting in Vigor
Glass-cannon builds often suffer heavily in this region.
Ignoring Exploration
Several important rewards are hidden away from the main path.
Fastest Progression Route Summary
For maximum efficiency:
- Enter Mountaintops
- Obtain map fragment
- Explore Zamor Ruins
- Unlock major Sites of Grace
- Upgrade weapons
- Visit Freezing Lake
- Clear Castle Sol
- Defeat Commander Niall
- Obtain Haligtree Secret Medallion
- Prepare build for Fire Giant
- Defeat Fire Giant
- Reach Forge of the Giants
This route provides the smoothest progression into Elden Ring's endgame.
How the Mountaintops Change Elden Ring
Earlier regions focus on growth.
The Mountaintops focus on preparation.
By this stage, players should already understand:
- Build optimization
- Weapon scaling
- Flask management
- Boss fundamentals
The game now expects mastery rather than experimentation.
This shift is what makes the Mountaintops one of Elden Ring's most memorable regions.
FAQ
What level should I be for the Mountaintops of the Giants?
Most players are comfortable between levels 100 and 120.
Is Castle Sol required?
No, but it is highly recommended because it contains the Haligtree Secret Medallion.
What weapon level should I have before Fire Giant?
A standard weapon should ideally be between +20 and +24.
Should I explore before fighting Fire Giant?
Yes. The region contains valuable upgrades that make the encounter significantly easier.
What comes after the Mountaintops?
After the Forge of the Giants, progression eventually leads to Crumbling Farum Azula and the final stages of the game.